Tree-based urban design with lots going on biloba surface
GINKGOPOLIS
Designer: Xavier Georges | Publisher: Pearl Games
PLAYED
Ginkgopolis is set in a future where humans have exhausted Earth’s resources and must now build cities in harmony with nature, inspired by the Ginkgo Biloba tree. That’s what we’re told, anyway – the theme of this game bears almost no relation to how it’s played and, to be honest, tends to only confuse people during the rules explanation. ‘We’re building… tree cities?’ ‘Well, cities inspired by trees.’
What the game boils down to is area control with a pinch of engine building and a dash of drafting. Each turn you’re going to pick a card from your hand, perform one of two possible actions associated with that card, then pass your remaining cards to the left. You’re all building onto a central grid – the city – which grows outwards and upwards during the game.